Pencil sharpener construction



Nov. 23, 1943- E. c. HOFFMANN PENCIL SHARPENER CONSTRUCTION 2sheets-shut 1 Filed March 14, 1942 Nav. 23, 1943. E. c. HOFFMANN2,335,148

PENCIL SHARPENER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1942 -2 sheets-sheet 2/NMEA/oe: EDWARD C. HOFFMAN/x4 Patented Nov. 23, 1943 PENCIL SHARPENEB.CONSTRUCTION Edward C. Hoffmann, University City, Mo., assignor toTriple E Products Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of MissouriApplication March 14, 1942, Serial No. 434,765

(Cl. 1Z0-96) 5 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to pencil sharpeners, and moreparticularly to bearing constructions for pencil sharpener rotatingassemblages and to pencil pointing constructions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel bearingconstruction for pencil Sharpener rotor assemblages, which findsparticular use with an automatic pencil Sharpener having a rotor whichis moved at high speeds.

Another object is tol provide a novel bearing construction for pencilsharpeners which permanently and automatically oils the main bearing endof the rotor assemblage of the Sharpener.

Another object is to provide a novel bearing construction for pencilSharpeners which provides lifetime oiling of the main bearing of therotor.

Another object is to provide a novel bearing which is adapted to oil arotating part automatically throughout a long period of service.

Another object is to provide a novel bearing construction which isadapted to function under severe usage.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil pointing constructionA foruse with pencil Sharpeners.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil pointing construction forSharpeners which is adjustable for obtaining a ne point to a bluntpoint.

Another object is to provide a novel pencil pointing construction forSharpeners which is permanently guided in its pointing portion acrossthe axis of rotation ofthe pencil receiving core.

Other objects are to provide a novel pencil pointing construction forSharpeners which is positive in functioning, which does not get out ofadjustment or alinement even under severe usage, and which is adapted tofulfill al1 the objects and advantages sought therefor.

Other objects and advantages are apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an automatic electric pencil Sharpener whichincorporates the present novel bearing construction and pencil pointingi showing the pencil pointing construction in one of the extremepositions of movement;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig, 3 showing the pencilpointing construction in an intermediate position;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing the pencilpointing construction in the other extreme position of movement;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the pencil pointing construction and the rotorwith the cutters removed;

Fig. 11 is a side view-of the pencil pointing construction levers;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2 l2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line I3 3 of Fig. 3; and

Fig, 14 is a section on the line |4 |4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20indicates generally an electric pencil Sharpener incorporating the novelfeatures of the present invention. The sharpener 20 includes a casing2|, shown of a plastic 'vmaterial and of a streamlined configuration,

which is secured to a bottom plate 22 by a screw 23 and underhangingpivoted member 24 cooperating with forwardly disposed interlockingelements of any nature (not shown). The lbase 22 includes a mainplatform portion 26 of metal, or the like, and a rubber cushion 21..

A supporting bracket 29 (Fig. 4) is anchored by a nut and bolt 30 to theupper portion 26, being maintained in alinement by lateral guides 3|.The bracket 29 includes a portion 32 at substantially 45 to thehorizontal and a Wall portion 33 at substantially 90 thereto. A housingcasting 35 (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 13, and 14) of the configuration shown, issecured by suitable screws 36 to the wall portion 33, extends from oneface thereof, and rests on the portion 32. A header member 31 is securedto the end of the casting 35. An electric motor 38 is secured to theother face of the wall portion 33 by suitable screws 39. The casting 35forms with the wall portion 33, a chamber 40, and with the header 3l, achamber 4I. Within the chamber 4I is a rotary cutter assemblage 42 whichincludes a bearing shaft 44 mounted in a bearing ring 45 (Figs. 12 and13) which is in turn supported by an annular portion 48 formed as a partof the casting 35 (Fig. 3). The bearing ring 45 is of Olite, or similarmaterial, comprising compressed ground brass and other materialsimpregnated with oil to a substantial degree. Extending aroundsubstantially two-thirds of the portion 48 is a lubricant trough '48 foroil 48, or the like. An outer wall 88 and one side wall V8l of thetrough 48 are formed integral with the casting 38, the other wall 52comprising a plate and sealing washer secured in place by suitablescrews 63. A small hole 66 extends through the portion 46 at a suitablepoint in alinement with a shallow groove 88 in the bearing ring 45 forthe reception of oil 49. Similarly, an aperture 61 extends through anopposing side oi' the portion 46 in alinement with the groove 68.

A pencil `pointing construction 60 (Figs. 3-1l) is mounted on the rotarycutter assemblage 42. A lever link 6| is pivoted immediate its ends vona screw pin 62 supported by spaced ears 63 between which the lever 6l isdisposed (Fig. 3). The lever` 6| includes a handle portion 64 at one endby means of which it may be manually pivoted about the screw pin 62. Thelever 6I is of double construction and receives between the ends remotefrom the handle 64 a link 66 which has apertures 61` adjacent the pivotend and steps 68, 69, and 18 formed in the other end.

The link 66 slides in a groove 12 formed between cutting rollers 13 ofthe rotary cutting assemblage 42 at the converging ends thereof (Figs. 8and 9). A boss 14 formed in a skeleton wall 15 of the rotary cutterassemblage 42 receives a ball 16 which is urged inwardly by a spring 11maintained in position by a screw 18. 'I'he ball 16 is adapted to sit ina selected aperture 61 of the link 66 for purposes of centrally locatinga selected step 68, 68, or 10 in a position to receive as a stop thepoint of a pencil being sharpened by the rotary cutting rollers 13.

Within the chamber 40 is suitable reduction gearing 80 operativelyconnecting a drive shaft 8| of the motor 38 to the rotary cutterassemblage 42, the specific details being manifest from the drawing andwell-known in the art.

A pencil sizer construction 83 (Figs. 1-4) is connected to the casing 2|at the usual point and includes an adjustable opening 84 to receive apencil for sharpening. The details of this construction are particularlydescribed in my copending application, Serial No. 416,039, led October22, 1941, Aand require no specific description here since the same formsno part of th present invention.

Operation The mechanical operation of the disclosed electrical pencilsharpener is Well-known in the art. The insertion of a pencil throughthe opening 84 into the space between the cutting rollers 13 throws aswitch mechanism (not shown) to energize the motor 38 which drives thecutting rollers 13 through the reduction gearing A8|).

It is manifest that some form of lubricant is necessary to prevent thebearing shaft 44 of the rotary cutting assemblage 42 from heating upwith a resultant freezing action., Grease cups, oil cups, and the like,are both impractical and unsatisfactory. Whether or not the lubricatingsubstance is periodically administered when such devices are used isnecessarily left to the user or attendant. The present inventionprovides a lifetime lubricating construction, for suillcie'nt oil isloriginally stored in the trough 48 for lifetimeuse of the pencilsharpener 20. The oil 49 permeates the oil compound material of thebearing ring 45 and provides an oil film on the interior bearing surfacethereof, suiiicient in quantity to keep the bearing shaft 44 greasedcon'- tinuously. However, seepage ot the oil 48 is very slow, and,hence, one filling of the trough 48 will last for an indeilnite periodof time.V The groove 68, which may or may not extend around the fullcircumference of the bearing ring 48, permits a greater access of oilinto the ring 45, and also assists the assembly of the ring 48 andportion 46.' Where only indentations are employed in ring 46 it isimpossible to make the same iirst and then mount the ring 45 in theportion 48 with the indentations in alinement with the holes 56 and 51.A groove 58 or indentation in the ring 46 is necessary to effectpermeation of the oil.

The pencil pointing construction 60 provides an effective means forsecuring a very fine, a medium, f

or blunt point for a pencilbeing sharpened by the pencil sharpener 28.In Fig. 5, the pointer 60 is in the position to provide a blunt point;in Fig. 6, to provide a medium point; and in Fig. 7, to provide a finepoint. The spring pressed ball 16 maintains the ponting construction 60in the selected position.

An important feature of the pointing construction 68 resides in thegroove construction 12 which lreceives the link 66. The groove 12maintains the link 66 against lateral movement so that the selected step68, 66, or 16 of the link 66 is at all times centrally disposed toreceive the point of a pencil being sharpened. Since'only a. thin edgecan be employed, it is essential that Y there be no lateral movement,for otherwise there would result an eating away ofthe pencil beingsharpened by the sharpening rollers.

' It is to be understood that the present constructions may 'be variedin conguration and in material. Further, the constructions find application to pencil Sharpeners other than the electrical type disclosed.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawings are given by way of illustration and example andnot for purposes of limitation, the invention being hunted only by theclaims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a pencil sharpener, a converging means to receive the end of apencil to be sharpened, including a cutting means adapted to cut the endof said pencil to a tapered point, a support, a rst member pivotedthereon, a second member pivoted to the rst member,. said second memberincluding a portion disposed to be contacted by the point of a pencilbeing sharpened, said contactable portion being stepped for varying thesharpness of the pencil point, and means for maintaining said secondmember against lateral movement.

2. In a rotary cutting assemblage for pencil Sharpeners, a base, a firstmember pivoted thereon intermediate its ends, a second member pivot-lally connected to the rst member, a guide formed in the base andextending through the axis of rotation receiving the second member forpreventing lateral movement While permitting reciprocating movement,said second member including a portion of varying 'width movable throughthe axis of rotation, said portion being adapted to stop-a pencil beingsharpened' and y of said pencil to a tapered point, a support, aA firstmember pivotedthereon, a second member pivoted tothe iirst member, saidsecond member including a stepped portion disposed to be contacted bythe point of said pencil being sharpcned.

4. In a pencil Sharpener, a converging means to receive the end of apencil to be sharpened, including a cutting means adapted to cut the endof said pencil to a tapered point, a support, means for limiting thelongitudinal movement of the point of said pencil including a steppedportion mounted on said support, and means for maintaining said steppedportion against lateral movement and in point-receiving position.

5. In a pencil Sharpener including a rotary cutting assemblage having abase, a guide formed in the base and extending through the axis ofrotation, and means for receiving the point of a pencil to limit itsinward movement, including a stepped portion disposed in the guide andmeans for moving the stepped portion to dispose a different part inpencil-receiving position.

EDWARD C. HOFFMANN.

